Colombian and 4 Chinese Nationals Arrested in Pattaya

Cesar Augusto Caita Riomalo has been arrested for using a counterfeit passport with a fake name

PATTAYA – Colombian Cesar Augusto Caita Riomalo, 39 is facing deportation after being caught using a counterfeit passport with a fake name.

Mr. Cesar Augusto Caita Riomalo, 39, was arrested by immigration officials after trying to rent a car on Second Road using a bogus Guatemalan passport with a different name, the Pattaya Mail reported.

Immigration Police have charged him with using a fake name, having a counterfeit passport, changing his own traveling documents and faking Thai Immigration stamps.

Wei Chen, 27, Keqiang Sui, 29, Qing Gao, 26, and Xianxiang Shen, 27, were taken into custody July 22 at a home the Pattaya Lagoon housing development in Moo 10 village.

Meanwhile, the Pattaya Mail also reported 4 Chinese men were arrested in Pattaya for allegedly setting up an underground online lottery for Thais.

They were caught placing their bets on selected numbers. Police seized four notebook computers, three portable hard drives, a list of names and members, and networking equipment.

Police said the four men admitted they came to Pattaya to set up a lottery website, thinking it would be a new innovation for Thailand. Bets were placed by both Thais and Chinese with daily turnover estimated at 2 million baht.

Police say a Spanish man who died in his central Pattaya apartment fell after getting drunk, Manuel Gallardo Garcia, 53, was found lying in a pool of blood in his bathroom July 27. He had a deep cut to his forehead, which police said was caused by hitting his head when falling. He was estimated to have been dead for more than 12 hours.

Beer bottles were scattered around the room, but police ruled out any foul play.

Garcia’s wife, Chuthinan Thamabooth, 47, said they have been together for more than 11 years and have a 7-year-old daughter.